Ecclesiastes, 4

1. Then again, I contemplate all the oppression that is committed under the sun. Take for instance the tears of the oppressed. No one to comfort them! The power their oppressors wield. No one to comfort them!

1. Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them.

2. So, rather than the living who still have lives to live, I congratulate the dead who have already met death;

2. And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive;

3. happier than both of these are those who are yet unborn and have not seen the evil things that are done under the sun.

3. but better than both is he who has not yet been, and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

4. I see that all effort and all achievement spring from mutual jealousy. This too is futility and chasing after the wind.

4. Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

5. The fool folds his arms and eats his own flesh away.

5. The fool folds his hands, and eats his own flesh.

6. Better one hand full of repose than two hands full of achievements to chase after the wind.

6. Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.

7. And something else futile I observe under the sun:

7. Again, I saw vanity under the sun:

8. a person is quite alone -- no child, no brother; and yet there is no end to his efforts, his eyes can never have their fill of riches. For whom, then, do I work so hard and grudge myself pleasure? This too is futile, a sorry business.

8. a person who has no one, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, "For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is vanity and an unhappy business.

9. Better two than one alone, since thus their work is really rewarding.

9. Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.

10. If one should fall, the other helps him up; but what of the person with no one to help him up when he falls?

10. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up.

11. Again: if two sleep together they keep warm, but how can anyone keep warm alone?

11. Again, if two lie together, they are warm; but how can one be warm alone?

12. Where one alone would be overcome, two will put up resistance; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

12. And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13. Better a youngster poor and wise than a monarch old and silly who will no longer take advice-

13. Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who will no longer take advice,

14. even though stepping from prison to the throne, even though born a beggar in that kingdom.

14. even though he had gone from prison to the throne or in his own kingdom had been born poor.

15. I observe that all who live and move under the sun support the young newcomer who takes over.

15. I saw all the living who move about under the sun, as well as that youth, who was to stand in his place;

16. He takes his place at the head of innumerable subjects; but his successors will not think the more kindly of him for that. This too is futile and chasing after the wind.

16. there was no end of all the people; he was over all of them. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

17. Watch your step when you go to the House of God: drawing near to listen is better than the offering of a sacrifice by fools, though they do not know that they are doing wrong.

17.